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Equine & Livestock Management

Equine & Livestock Management

In this program, you will learn the essentials of large animal care, perform health assessments, study pathogens, and design preventative care and nutrition plans. You will gain specialized experience with horses by exploring equine reproduction, training, and facility design alongside everyday livestock husbandry. Beyond barn work, you will build leadership and agribusiness skills by learning how to market animal products, manage finances, and develop operational plans.

Three people prepare a dark horse in a wooden stable with hay on the floor.

Career Expectations

  • Extended standing, stoop/bend, lift/carry objects < 80 pounds
  • Work with live animals (horse/various livestock/farm animals)
  • Bathe/cut/brush animals
  • Exercise animals/provide companionship
  • Use equipment/lead small and large animals
  • Use various types of bedding (straw/cedar and wood shavings)
  • Maintain safe/sanitary habitats for various types of animals
  • Hold/restrain animals during examinations
  • Prepare labels/samples for laboratory examination
  • Complete medical reports/treatments delivered/care recommendations
  • Assist with veterinary treatment instruments/supplies/medications
  • Distinguish details/differences visually & differentiate various sounds
Two people work together in a barn, pushing a red wheelbarrow full of feed.

Ohio Department of Education & Workforce Development Courses

Year 1

  • Animal Health
  • Business Management for Agriculture and Environmental Systems

Year 2

  • Equine Selection, Nutrition and Management 
  • Animal Science and Technology 

 

View complete course guide here

Next Ready Skills

At Great Oaks, you’ll do more than learn a trade; you’ll master NextReady skills like clear communication and problem-solving that help you get hired. You will get a head start on building a professional reputation for being dependable, adaptable, and technically skilled before you even graduate

Effective Communicators

Provide clear reports on animal health, practice active listening skills with clients/owners/barn staff, participate in barn feedback sessions, and maintain teammate awareness.

Critical Thinkers

Use reliable research to provide the best animal care, analyze equine/livestock health status, recognize and handle animals based on their needs, and reflect/share lessons learned with others.

Adapt­able Navigators

Keep up with agriculture industry changes, compare animal care practices, react quickly to unpredictable issues, and be persistent when situations are demanding.

Account­able Employees

Maintain the welfare of all animals under care, take ownership of feeding and care, maintain respect toward owners/managers/ coworkers, and practice agricultural ethics.

Skilled Professionals

Model effective leadership, achieve animal care expertise and master handling skills, demonstrate proper and safe tool/equipment use, and provide high-quality care of animals/equipment/facilities.

Bottom Line: If you are responsible and observant, take pride in physical work, don’t mind getting your hands dirty, and want to dedicate your career to ensuring animal welfare, Equine & Livestock Management may be right for you.

Contact the Instructors

Kaleigh Toler

Diamond Oaks

Lindsay Scott

Laurel Oaks